Pressure transmission apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the transmission of the pressure in the sterile area of a medical appliance, such as a hemodialysis appliance, to a non-sterile pressure gauge having two housing halves and a sterility filter positioned between the two housing halves. The housing half on the sterile side may be made of polycarbonate, and the non-sterile housing half may be made of a polymer, preferably a polyester/polyether copolymer, which provides an easily disconnectable and leak-proof connection with the pressure gauge. The two halves are ultrasonically welded together.

This application is a continuation division of application Ser. No. 09/079,978, filed May 15, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,653B1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the transmission of the pressure in the sterile area of a medical appliance to a non-sterile pressure gauge. Pressure transmission apparatus of this kind, for example, are used in hemo-dialyzers, heart-lung-machines and similar medical appliances, in which a very accurate monitoring of the existing pressures in a sterile hose system is necessary, wherein simultaneously a sterilizing of the corresponding pressure gauges is not possible.

Such pressure transmission apparatus has to be absolutely sealed and free of leakage to prevent the non-sterile air from gaining access into the sterile area of the medical appliances, or to prevent mistakes in the measuring of the pressure. Further, such pressure transmission apparatus should have a so-called “Luer-Lock”-connector on the non-sterile side, preferably consisting of a polyester/polyether-copolymer to provide an easily disconnectable but simultaneously absolutely leak-proof connection with the corresponding stainless steel connectors of the pressure gauges in the medical appliance.

Prior art pressure transmission apparatus of this kind was constructed such that the housing consisted of a sterile half of polycarbonate having a hose connector and a non-sterile half, wherein between these two halves there was positioned a backing of polytetrafluorethylene carrying a polyfluorethylene sheet for the pressure transmission while simultaneously assuring the absolute impermeability. The corresponding “Luer-Lock”-connector on the non-sterile side had to be injection molded in a separate injection molding apparatus when producing the non-sterile side half of the housing. The expert in the art was of the opinion that this kind of production cannot be avoided because the expert had the prejudice that an absolutely sealed and leak-free connection between a part consisting of polyester-polyether-copolymer and a part consisting of polycarbonate was only possible by the cumbersome co-injection molding method, and was not possible by ultrasonic welding. Further, a completely sealed fixing of the backing carrying the polytetrafluorethylene sheet was only believed to be possible between two housing halves consisting of polycarbonate because of the fact that the polyester/polyether-copolymer was too soft for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Starting out from this prior art, one aim of the present invention is to provide a pressure transmission apparatus of the above-identified kind which has the same quality (impermeability and leak-proof) but can be produced in a drastically more simple and cheaper manner.

According to the invention, this aim is achieved by the fact that the non-sterile half of the housing consists of polyester/polyether-copolymer and that the two halves are connected by ultrasonic welding.

Contrary to the prejudice in the related expert field, the present invention is based on the finding that a sufficiently impermeable and leak-proof ultrasonic welding between one housing half of polyester/polyether-copolymer and another housing half of polycarbonate can be produced.

In this connection, it is of special advantage that the backing carrying the polytetrafluorethylene sheet is produced from polyester. This has the substantial advantage that the backing is also welded during the ultrasonic welding of the two housing halves, which leads to a substantially improved fixing and sealing of the backing.

Further, it is preferred that the non-sterile half of the housing has a thin circumferential projection which partly overlies the sterile half of the housing and which forms an ultrasonic welding area. By this, the ultrasonic welding is made not only possible but extremely simple, safe and cheap.

Further, it is especially preferred that within the projection a circumferential groove is provided in the non-sterile half into which a projection of the sterile half meshes. By this, the ultrasonic welding area is enlarged and the impermeability and strength of the connection between the two housing halves is further improved.

It is especially preferred in this connection that the projection on the sterile half has on its exterior a bevel in the direction of the non-sterile half. By this, a narrow, wedge-shaped, circumferential cavity is formed on the non-sterile end of the welding area into which the material softened during the ultrasonic welding can move, whereby the quality of the weld is further improved.

Further, it is especially preferred to provide a bevel on the inner side of the groove. By this, the mounting of the two housing halves is simplified and additional room is created into which the material softened by the ultrasonic welding can move.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a complete pressure transmission apparatus according to the invention, partly in section;

FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of the non-sterile housing half of the pressure transmission apparatus according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 an enlarged view of the detail A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view of the sterile housing half of the pressure transmission apparatus according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 and,

FIG. 5 an enlarged view of the detail B of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 of a preferred pressure transmission apparatus according to the invention comprises a sterile housing half 12, including a hose connector 14, consisting of polycarbonate, and a non-sterile housing half 16 having a “Luer-Lock” connector 18, which, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, is made of polyester/polyether-copolymer. Between the two housing halves 12 and 16, a backing 20 of polyester is held under pressure and is welded in its place during the ultrasonic welding of the two housing halves 12 and 16. The backing 20 carries a thin sheet of polytetrafluorethylene which performs the filter function between the sterile and the non-sterile areas. The polytetrafluorethylene sheet has such a small pore size that air can pass through but any non-sterile items in the air are blocked. Thus pressure changes in the sterile side can be transmitted to the non-sterile side, where a gauge or other pressure sensitive device is connected

The ultrasonic welding of the two housing halves 12 and 16 occurs in the area designated with reference number 22.

The two housing halves 12 and 16 each have a shape such that the entire construction has a rotational symmetry. The connection between the two housing halves 12 and 16 in detail is obtained as follows:

The sterile housing half 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5) has an exterior outer circumferential ring 24. This ring 24 serves as an abutment for a thin circumferential projection 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3) extending from the non-sterile housing half 16 in the direction of the sterile housing half 12. A circumferential groove 28 is provided in the non-sterile housing half 16 within the projection 26. A projection 30 of the sterile housing half 12 meshes into this groove 28. This projection 30 is provided with a bevel 38 on its exterior on the end facing the non-sterile housing half 16 such that the thickness of the projection 30 is decreasing in the direction of the non-sterile housing half 16.

The ultrasonic welding connection occurs in the area 22 from the exterior thereof and in a circumferential direction. The bevel 32 creates a cavity in the groove 28 into which the material molten by the ultrasonic welding can move. On the inner side of the groove 28 in the non-sterile housing half 16 another bevel is provided also, to ensure an easy mounting and additionally to create a further space into which the material molten during the ultrasonic welding can move.

Within the projection 30 or the groove 28, respectively, the backing 20 is held under pressure between the two housing halves 12 and 16, wherein the backing 20 carries the polytetrafluorethylene sheet for sealing the sterile area from the non-sterile area. The backing 20 preferably consists of polyester. Two concentric rings 32 and 34 which project slightly are provided on the sterile housing half 12 (FIG. 5) to improve the fixation and sealing of the backing 20 between the two housing halves 12 and 16. A single circumferential ring 36 (FIG. 3) projects from the non-sterile housing half 16 from an area opposed to the area between these two rings 32 and 34.

For mounting the pressure transmission apparatus, a backing 20 having the polytetrafluorethylene sheet is positioned in a sterile housing half, the non-sterile housing half is plugged in and the two housing halves are sealingly connected with each other by circumferential ultrasonic welding. By this method of production, the pressure transmission apparatus can be produced much cheaper compared with the prior art.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention is capable of being incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only one of which has been illustrated and described above. The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

I claim:
 1. A tranducer-protector device for biomedical heamodialysis lines, comprising a first tubular connector of the female Luer Lock type with a conical inner surface and an outer threading, intended to be connected to a tube of a haemodialysis equipment, a second tubular connector coaxial to said first tubular connector, said first and second tubular connectors being provided with respective first and second radial annular flanges for their mutual permanent sealed connection by ultrasonic welding, and a filtering membrane made of a permeable material defining an anti-contamination sterile barrier interposed transversely between said first and said second tubular connectors and having a peripheral edge clamped between said radial annular flanges, wherein said second tubular connector with said second radial annular flange is formed by one piece of high rigidity moulded thermoplastic material, and wherein said first Luer Lock connector with said first radial annular flange is constituted by one piece of a moulded thermoplastic material having elasticity characteristics higher than those of said second tubular connector with said second radial annular flange.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material having higher elasticity characteristics is selected in the class of polyester polymers.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first radial annular flange has an axial thickness substantially greater than the axial thickness of said second radial annular flange.
 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second radial annular flanges have respective radially outer front perimetral portions of mutual axial compenetration and respective radially inner front perimetral surfaces for mechanically clamping said peripheral edge of said filtering membrane.
 5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said conical inner surface of said first tubular connector has an axially outer end innerly formed with an annular radial narrowing.
 6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said tubular connector has a differentiated wall thickness, with a first axial portion substantially comprised between said first radial annular flange and said outer threading, having a smaller wall thickness, and a second axial portion substantially corresponding to said outer threading and to said axially outer end, having a greater wall thickness, and wherein said annular radial narrowing is determined by a different thermal shrinkage of said first and second axial portions following moulding of said first tubular connector with said first radial annular flange.
 7. Device according to claim 1, wherein integral outer radial stiffening wings are arranged between said tubular connector and said second annular flange. 